As the 2026 new year begins, the search for college is over for seniors. Now the hard part begins: waiting. Most colleges have begun to accept seniors, and universities have released acceptances to all fall undergraduates.

Shadow Hills High School seniors expressed a mix of excitement and nervousness while conversing with classmates about getting into their dream schools.

Senior Julissa Cornejo applied to eight California State University (CSU) campuses and four University of California (UC) schools.

“I haven’t heard back from every school yet,” Cornejo said. She is still waiting to hear from her dream school, San Diego State University.

Cornejo plans on majoring in business administration. She wants to pursue a career as a social media marketing manager for major companies.

Senior Stephanie Barney also shared her journey.

“My dream school was to be accepted to BYU-Idaho or University of Utah, and I got accepted to University of Utah!” Barney said.

While she is not nervous about her acceptance, she will wait a year and a half before entering the university. She plans to go on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Barney intends to major in education to become a second-grade teacher.

Senior Julianna Barcenas is also navigating the process.

“Mostly for safety, but the one that I’m really hoping to get into is definitely UC Berkeley,” Barcenas emphasized.

Barcenas said she wanted to apply to the University of Southern California (USC), but she found the application process long and felt unmotivated to finish it.

The seniors feel secure in their futures and hopeful for their next steps after graduation.

“I really hope I get into San Diego State,” Cornejo said.